Milky water
 

Just starting my 33g. I added the water and salt 4 days ago and the water seems really milky. I have not added the sand or LR yet, and salinity is at 1.020. I have a AC200 running carbon for the last two days, but doesn't seem to clean it up. SHould I add the skimmer to clean it. Since there is nothing in there but salt water it should be clear like it was before I added Red Sea Salt, am I correct? Or should I not worry about it until I add the sand and LR?

Thanks

Re: Milky water
 

Sounds like the salt has not fully dissolved, which is definitely strange after 4 days. Did you stir the salt really well after putting it in the tank? Is there any salt on the bottom of the tank? Do you have a heater in there to aid in the dissolving of the salt?

An AC200 isn't going push the water around enough to be very effective at helping dissolve the salt. I think you need a higher water turn over rate than an AC200 does, especially over the long term.

Also, salinity should be 1.024-1.026.

HTH :smile:

Could it be something in your water?

THe salt is disolved, its more hazy then milky. The AC200 is putting in a lot of micro bubles from the water falling. As I didn't fill it up to leave room for sand and rock. I did add more water and the salinity is now at 1.024. There is no salt at the bottom only a small trace of brown sand it lookes like.

Could it be from the bubbles or alge. Should a run more carbon, or just wait untill the skimmer, sand and rocks are in?

do you have the kits to test Ca, alk PH? if so test them and tell us what they are.

also what brand of salt and how long ago did you buy it?

Steve

I just bought the salt on Sunday and it is Red Sea ( New tank ) . My Ph is 8.1 (at 10pm)
My Kh is 100. I don't have a Ca test yet. No Amonia or NO2

Did you add the salt, then the water?

OR

Water, then the salt?

I add 15g of water then the salt and mixed it by hand for 1/2 hour. Then the rest I mixed the salt with every gallon and added it to the tank.

I don't think it is a salt issue. The water doesn't look like I just added a bunch of salt. Its more a hazzy look. Not to clear when you look threw the tank (three side viewing room divider). THe AC200 is making a lot of micro bubbles from the fall distance (until I get my rock and sand it) maybe that is causing the water to not be clear.

really milky eh!!!
Doug had that problem with some red sea salt i think it was called maybe you have the cal is too high in your water along with the CAl in the salt mix..

No milky is not the right term. It is just not clear. when looking threw the tank into the next room its just not clear. I'll wait until I get the sand, rocks and skimmer in before I worry about it.